KNOW HOW OR WHERE THEY WERE EXPOSED. STEVE: MORE IOWANS HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19 ARE GETTING PLASMA FROM RECOVERED PATIENTS. ON WEDNESDAY, LAURA REPORTED ON TREATMENT DOCTORS ARE JUST SINCE THAT STORY AIRED, LAURA HAS LEARNED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOW SIGNING UP TO DONATE PLASMA. >> I CAME IN TODAY BECAUSE I WANTED TO GIVE PLASMA. REPORTER: HE HAS RECOVERED FROM COVID-19 AND ONE OF THE FIRST TO DONATE HIS PLASMA. HE IS HOPING TO HELP THE SICKEST OF COVID-19 PATIENTS. >> WHEN I THINK ABOUT PEOPLE ON RESPIRATORS, THERE SEEMS TO BE A POSSIBILITY TO HELP THEM, IF I CAN DO IT, WHY NOT. REPORTER: 60 MORE HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN DONATING. DOCTORS ARE HOPING THE ANTIBODIES IN THEIR CONVALESCENT PLASMA WILL BE LIFE SAVING. THE NEED IS CRITICAL. WE HAVE LEARNED THAT SEVEN AREA HOSPITALS HAVE SENT REQUESTS FOR PLAMA TO LIFE SERVE. >> WE WANT IT ON THE SHELF AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. REPORTER: THOSE REQUESTS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED THANKS TO WILLING DONORS AND THIS MAN WHO DIDN'T WANT US TO USE HIS NAME. DOCTORS PERFORMED THE FIRST LOCAL PLASMA TRANSFUSION LAST WEEK AND PLANNING ON THREE MORE. ONE PERSON'S PLASMA CAN HELP FOUR DIFFERENT PATIENTS. YOU CAN DONATE PLASMA EVERY 28 DAYS. SO IF YOU HAVE RECOVERED FROM COVID-19 AND YOU MEET THE SCREENING CRITERIA CALL LIFESERVE TO DON

More Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 are getting plasma from recovered patients. On Wednesday, KCCI shared the story about the promising antibody treatment doctors are starting to use. Since the story aired, numerous people are signing up to donate plasma. Randy Clarkson is recovered from COVID-19 and one of the first Iowans to donate his plasma. Clarkson went to LifeServe on Thursday in hopes of helping the sickest COVID-19 patients. "When I think about people that are on respirators and this seems to be a possibility to help them, thought if I could do it, why not?" Clarkson said. Now, 60 more Iowans like Clarkson have expressed interest in donating. Doctors are hoping the antibodies in their convalescent plasma will be lifesaving. "We are just trying to find as many people as we can that are eligible to donate really as quickly as possible," said Danielle West, with LifeServe Blood Center. The need is critical according to authorities. Right now, seven area hospitals have sent requests for plasma to LifeServe. "I assume that number is just going to continue to rise, and we want to make sure we have it on the shelf as quickly as we can," West said. All seven of those plasma requests have been fulfilled thanks to willing donors like Clarkson. UnityPoint doctors performed the first local transfusion one week ago. They said they're working on three more transfusions. "More and more physicians are getting excited about this opportunity," West said. One person's convalescent plasma donation can serve four people and donors can give every 28 days. If you're recovering from COVID-19 and meet all the screening criteria, call LifeServe to schedule appointments to donate.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

More Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 are getting plasma from recovered patients. On Wednesday, KCCI shared the story about the promising antibody treatment doctors are starting to use. Since the story aired, numerous people are signing up to donate plasma.

Randy Clarkson is recovered from COVID-19 and one of the first Iowans to donate his plasma. Clarkson went to LifeServe on Thursday in hopes of helping the sickest COVID-19 patients.

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"When I think about people that are on respirators and this seems to be a possibility to help them, thought if I could do it, why not?" Clarkson said.

Now, 60 more Iowans like Clarkson have expressed interest in donating. Doctors are hoping the antibodies in their convalescent plasma will be lifesaving.

"We are just trying to find as many people as we can that are eligible to donate really as quickly as possible," said Danielle West, with LifeServe Blood Center.

The need is critical according to authorities. Right now, seven area hospitals have sent requests for plasma to LifeServe.

"I assume that number is just going to continue to rise, and we want to make sure we have it on the shelf as quickly as we can," West said.

All seven of those plasma requests have been fulfilled thanks to willing donors like Clarkson. UnityPoint doctors performed the first local transfusion one week ago. They said they're working on three more transfusions.

"More and more physicians are getting excited about this opportunity," West said.

One person's convalescent plasma donation can serve four people and donors can give every 28 days. If you're recovering from COVID-19 and meet all the screening criteria, call LifeServe to schedule appointments to donate.